Zoos
Taronga Western Plains Zoo
(02) 6881 1400
Obley Road (off Newell Highway)
Dubbo, NSW, 2830
Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Taronga Western Plains Zoo - a safari around the world.
With more than 300 hectares of bushland, Taronga Western Plains Zoo is home to over 1,500 animals from all over the world. It is widely recognised as Australia's greatest open range zoo, successfully playing a part in international breeding programs for endangered Black Rhinoceros, Cheetah and Przewalski's Horse. Nationally, the Zoo's successes include many Australian natives like Mallee Fowl and Bridled Nailtail Wallabies.
The Taronga Western Plains Zoo adventure begins with a journey along their six kilometre world safari circuit in the comfort of your own car, or by electric cart or bike, both of which can be hired at the zoo. Be intrigued by close encounters with the unique wildlife of Africa, Asia and the Americas as well as meeting with some of the many free-ranging Australian animals.
An extensive program of daily keeper talks and activity feeds, hosted by zoo keepers, offer an excellent educational experience and an insight into the animals' natural behaviours.
A behind-the-scenes 'Early Morning Walk' is a fantastic way to get close to some of the Zoo's most exotic animals. These weekend tours are conducted by trained Zoo Friend volunteers. During the school holidays the tours are also conducted on Wednesdays and Fridays. No bookings are required, just show up at the Zoo gate by 6.45am
Visitors to the Zoo can also participate in Animal Encounters. These three exclusive behind-the-scenes tours give visitors the rare opportunity to personally feed, observe and assist with behavioural enrichment programs for the Black, White, Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, Sumatran Tiger and African Lion. Bookings are essential.
For a special adventure, Zoofari Lodge offers onsite Zoo accommodation. Zoofari consists of a series of African-style tented luxury lodges with en-suite facilities and heated floor tiles. Packages include two-day zoo admission, three exclusive, face-to-face encounters with exotic and endangered animals, an a-la-carte dinner and buffet breakfast, unique accommodation in an amazing location, discounts at the Zoo Shop and more.
Picnic grounds and free barbecue facilities are available around the Zoo. You can also enjoy cafe style fare with a fabulous view at Bakhita's Cafe or visit one of the kiosks or the Zoo Shop.
There is so much to do at Taronga Western Plains ...read more
Contact details
Features
- Family Friendly
- Parking
Disabled Facilities
- Disabled Parking
Fabulous zoo. Big spaces with great varieties of animals. 6km loop which you can do on foot, by car, or hire bikes or a buggy. Gets hot in the middle of the day and the animals tend to be more active earlier and later in the day so time your trip well and wear sunscreen!
I think a couple of reviewers thought this was Sydney Zoo. Needs to be fixed.
Anyway, the staff are helpful and friendly and the carts are fun. But I found this place to be only really good if you have small children. The animals are far away and the intelligent animals look bored. Not much to do in their enclosures, especially the elephants.
The one thing we enjoyed was petting the Giant Tortoises during a feeding and talk. You could do the zoo in about 3-4 hours.
Visited here with the family & drove around in our car - faster than on the back of a tortoise which we learnt can race at 500 metres per hour if they get really excited.
Was going to write this review from the perspective of the many zebras we saw, but everything is too black & white to them.
Enough monkeying around - this was a swinging great day, though it was boiling hot and unlike the otters we had to pay $4.50 for a cold water, think that's a bit steep (unlike the walking tracks which weren't steep at all).
If we'd only seen mere cats we'd have been disappointed, but we were real happy with the meerkats & big cats (tigers, lions & cheetahs who you wouldn't want to go to school with coz they cheat).
A day of great elephant like proportions, and we could have even gotten in for a second day for free on our ticket - but we didn't have time...I'm not lyin!
This is a long haul from Sydney (6 hours) so if you are making a long trip then make sure to turn up for the early morning walk ($10). I did not pay extra fro the up-close-and-personals with any of the beasties but I think for all the travel I should have! It does double the cost of the visit but do consider it carefully.
cycling is the way to get around but a car is fine too, but if you do drive around you will actually be walking a lot between car parks! If you have oldies with you take an electric cart so you can get in close to the exhibits.
